Health Insurance

The Estonian health-care system is built on solidarity-based health financing, a well-equipped infrastructure for primary care based on family physicians, nurses and modern hospital services.

Estonian Health Insurance Fund (EHIF) covers the costs of health services required by the person in case of illness in Estonia. An insured person by EHIF is:

a permanent resident of the Republic of Estonia or

a person living in Estonia by virtue of a temporary residence permit or by the right of permanent residence, who pays the social tax for himself/herself or for whom the payer of social tax is required to pay social tax.

All persons insured have access to “family doctors” i.e. general practitioners, or GPs. The GP is the first medical specialist you meet with. The GP has the right to forward the patient to higher medical institutions or consultations depending on the seriousness of the health concerns. More information on "family doctors" i.e. GPs.

EU citizens

A person from an EU member country who has come to study or work in Estonia is usually insured in their country of origin. EU citizens are entitled to the same social benefits in Estonia as the residents of Estonia. Therefore, international staff coming from the EU countries should obtain an EU health insurance card (EHIC) or substitute certificate of an EU health insurance card (form E128) from the social service authorities in their home country before arriving in Estonia.

NB! EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property.

To be eligible for an EHIC, one must be insured by or covered by a national social security system in any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you cannot get the EHIC, please check if insurance policies offered by any of the private companies meet your needs.

You should not be without any health insurance!.

Non-EU citizens

A strict policy in Estonia governs what health insurance must cover when applying for the residence permit. A person residing in Estonia with a temporary residence permit is insured similarly to a permanent resident of Estonia. Please, check if the insurance you have selected is accepted by Estonian Migration Board beforehand (ERGO Life Insurance SE).

Staff members who decide to purchase some other worldwide health insurance coverage must make sure of the following:

it must clearly state that the policy is valid in Estonia;

it is of utmost importance that the policy states explicitly that any costs related to medical treatment as a result of illness or injury during the period of validity of the residence permit applied for will be met;

there can be no reference to the fact that insurance is guaranteed in case of unavoidable medical treatment. Travel insurance is not acceptable!